Mayor Eric Adams: We are really excited about being here this morning. I told Andrew, feel like old times, we've worked together throughout the years, particularly here in the Navy Yard and moving forward some great projects that are really dear and close to my heart as the Borough President. That's why I don't believe there's a more fitting place to roll out this amazing team under Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer as we talk about the recovery for our city. And when you look at the recovery, just as when we went into COVID, the inequalities existed, and we are going to make darn sure when we come out, those inequalities do not continue to exist. Whenever America needed New York, they came here to the Navy Yard. This is where America's question mark was straightened to an exclamation point that yes, we're going to make it as a city and as a country. This was called the can do ship yard. It was a place where we knew we can get it done. We did it so many times before, during the war times of our previous years, as we face the battle of COVID, those war times are here as we go through our recovery period. And that's the battle that we must win. Companies have pivoted their businesses right here in this spot to address some of the important issues that we were facing during COVID. I recall walking through some of the factories that retrofitted themselves to build PPEs, hospital gowns, face masks, we responded immediately to the call of duty like we've done so many times before.
New York City is crucial to not only this state, but our country. We are the economic engines that continues to propel our nation forward. If people want to acknowledge it or not, I say it over and over again, the way goes New York, goes the country, and the way goes the country goes to globe. It all starts right here. This place under the leadership of previous years, Andrew Kimball and others, it was clearly the incubator for innovation in a pipeline to turn today's students into tomorrow’s leaders and workforce leaders. The Brooklyn STEAM Center, something I put $5 million into as the Borough President, continues to produce young, bright minds that don't have to watch buildings go up as their futures go down. They are participating in the building of our city and our economy for tomorrow, and I believe in what we could accomplish because innovation and growth is at the core of the spirit of New Yorker and Americans. We're entrepreneurs, we’re creative, we are realistic, pragmatic, but straightforward dreamers of tomorrow. This is the place of cutting edge industries that will lead our future and build our economy. When that dream’s big, that solves big challenges ahead of us, and that empowers working people to participate in their city and government. And so today, we are happy to announce an impressive team of leaders that are part of our desire to build out our economy and our future in an equitable fashion. We're going to climb higher and higher, and we're going to be bold and brave, and we're going to be unafraid. We're going to dismantle the culture of can’t. The first thing we say in this city, particularly in our agencies, we start off with saying what can't be done. Those are days of the past. We're going to lean in what we will do and how we're going to do it.
We had to build our team with the anchor, and I am pleased to have an anchor that understands where we going tomorrow and build on his strong today. That’s Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. She has been a real leader in how government must recover, and in the days to come, we're going to roll out our real economic plan that's going to touch every aspect of our economy in general, but specifically for those who have been left behind for far too long to be prepared for employment. Part of this team is the announcement we're making today. CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Lindsay Greene. Lindsay comes with years of experience and we are proud to have her as part of this team. And our President and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation, as I mentioned, Andrew Kimball, a long track record of improving environments and turning around industries and bringing jobs here to number one the borough, but the entire city. And we're happy to reappoint the Commissioner Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Anne del Castillo. She's going to bring her depth of experience as we bring out, build out our film industry and take a new look at what that agency should look at. And my reappointment of President CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, Clare Newman. My conversations with her, a clear visionary, on what Governors Island should look like. An island that has sat for far too long, untamed and undiscovered. We're going to redeploy our energies and our vision to see how that becomes part of not only the five boroughs, but to bring in tourism throughout our entire region. They will serve alongside those who have previously appointed Dan Garodnick, what he did dealing with the rezoning in Manhattan, bringing in a great interest, One Vanderbilt, to state really is part of feeding our economy for the future. We're happy to have Dan as the Chair of the City Planning Commission, and Edith Hsu-Chen our executive Director of the Commission, a real partnership. And we are really pleased with Kevin Kim, our Small Business Service Commissioner. I see Kevin on the ground all the time, learning more for the small businesses, and how we're going to assist them. And good friend, Jose Ortiz, Jr., wanted him for so long to be on this team from the four years running, sitting down with in mornings, talking about the future of employment. He's the Senior Advisor for Workforce Development and you're going to see real results out of his vision.
But I want to say broadly, that every corner of the city must participate in our growth and recovery. This is a diverse group of leaders, look at them, they are representative of New York City and what we represent and who we are, whether it's Lindsay, who has done incredible work at EDC is now making history as the first Black woman, an open LGBTQ member to head this major enterprise. It states that we are moving in the right direction. Or Andrew, who has been a visionary here at the Navy Yard in that industry city, transforming both location. Or Anne who has fought every day to deal with COVID and helping those blue collar workers that were impacted. Or Clare, who has already started unlocking the potential of Governors Island. Everyone on this team understands the mission, the mission and the bottom line is to Get Stuff Done. Bureaucracy, inefficiency, and inability to move forward has hampered the city for far too long. That will not be the hallmark of the Adams administration. The decade of collective experience that all of them bring to this table will show what fearless leadership is about as we move forward in the right direction. So now I'm going to turn it over to my amazing Deputy Mayor of Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. Thank you.
[Applause]
Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Economic and Workforce Development: Thank you, Mayor Adams. Good morning, everyone. I'd first like to thank David Ehrenberg and Hank Gutman for the incredible stewardship and leadership of this amazing enterprise, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and for hosting us today. I ask that all of you take one good look at the leaders behind me who are standing and sitting with us today. The talent, the experience, the creativity, and the diversity in this room. This is a great day for our city. It is a great day for our economic future, but it is especially a great day for working people all over the five boroughs. This is a blue collar administration, led by a blue collar Mayor. And as the Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development I spend every day fighting to build a recovery for all New Yorkers. That means accelerating this recovery as fast as we possibly can, and getting our people back to work, especially in the industries that have been most hard hit by COVID. But as this team will tell you, we are not just chasing a return to normal. We're New Yorkers, we don't stop at good enough.
As we come out of COVID, we will make this city a place where everyone shares in our prosperity, where every family has the opportunity, the security, the dignity they deserve. Where every neighborhood, especially communities of color, that have too often been left behind, can flourish. Where we create jobs of the future, right here at places like the Navy Yard, jobs in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, clean energy and more. We can set our city on a new path. All of that is possible with this team and with New Yorkers, because we have the vision, we have the expertise, we have the abiding love for all of our neighborhoods. And we have the drive to as the Mayor charged us every day to get stuff done.
So, I'm just so thrilled to lead this formidable team. And now let us hear from them. So first, I want to introduce the incoming President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Lindsay Greene. Lindsay comes to us from EDC, where she was Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President. Now I've known Lindsay for nearly a decade. And I know that she is laser focused on making sure that all New Yorkers benefit as we rebuild our economy. Lindsay.
[Applause]
Lindsay Greene, Incoming CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation : Thank you, Maria. Thank you, Mayor Adams. Thank you all for coming today. I just want to thank again, Mayor Adams and Deputy mentor Springer for this amazing opportunity. It's a dream opportunity, really. And I want to thank David Ehrenberg and Hank Guttman for their leadership of the Yard and their continued support in the transition. Thank you. I also want to thank the Navy, our tenants who helped me with my local shopping spree so I could showcase the wares of Yard made items today, my shirt, my shoes, and my earrings. I want to thank Kyiesha at Hip Hop Closet. I want to thank Waqas and Sidra at Atoms and I want to thank Gina at Rebel Designs. The Navy art is rich in history and brimming with promise of the future. It's one of the best national examples of urban manufacturing and a true job engine for a big city. And it's powered by the dreams and energy of creative New Yorkers like Kyiesha, Waqas, Sidra and Gina and for this next chapter, under my leadership, I really want to focus on building more local businesses like theirs, creating pathways for worker advancement, and ensuring that the people shaping the innovations tools and companies of the future really represent the diversity of our great city. I look forward to continue our strong partnership with local residents, elected officials and everyone working here to cement the Yard as a true center of inclusive economic development. I just want to say thank you so much again and give a special hello to my future CEO daughters Nai and Zuri. Thank you.
[Applause]
Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer: Thank you, Lindsay. Now we are going to hear from the incoming President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Andrew Kimball. Andrew has overseen the transformation of Industry City in Sunset Park, as well as serving as President CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. I've known Andrew for more than a decade and he is a true visionary, a deeply empathetic human being and his deep experience across the public, civic and private sectors will surely serve our city well in the very hard work ahead. Andrew.
[Applause]
Andrew Kimball, Incoming P resident and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation: Thank you very much, Deputy Mayor Torres Springer. It's an honor to be coming to work for you and congratulations on assembling this extraordinary team. Mr. Mayor, we're all here because we're inspired by your vision and your understanding that to bring this city roaring back from the difficult last two years to build the kind of inclusive, equitable economy we all want to see. We're going to need public private partnership to maintain New York City and grow it as one of the great innovation centers in the world. We're going to need public private partnership and to build the kind of workforce development career pathways, entrepreneurial opportunities that we all want to see in a more equitable and inclusive city. We're going to need public private partnership, and I can't wait to get started and to get stuff done. I just want to thank my wife, Sarah Williams, who's been with me every step of the journey, starting here 17 years ago with our two little boys who now dwarf me at 6’3 and 6’4 and are getting out of college. My colleagues Jackie Williams and Lee Silverstein staying with me every step of the way. I just want to acknowledge again the Navy Yard great story, which is a story of continuing tremendous leadership for me handing the baton to David and Hank, and to now, Lindsay. It's an extraordinary story. And I know Lindsay, you're going to have a fantastic time. Thank you all very much.
[Applause]
Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer: Thank you, Andrew. Now I'd like to introduce Anne del Castillo, the returning Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and is a true embodiment of get stuff done. She really led the economic recovery of the city's creative and nightlife sectors throughout the pandemic. Anne.
[Applause]
Commissioner Anne del Castillo, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment : Good morning, and I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to my colleagues. I'm thrilled to be part of this amazing team. As a native New Yorker, I am also extremely humbled and proud to be able to continue this critical work of rebuilding and growing our city's creative economy that is such an iconic and integral part of New York City, and that contributes so greatly to its image and allure around the world. I want to thank Mayor Adams for his confidence and remarkable support from day one. I also want to give a special thanks to my family for their sacrifice and support of this important work. I thank you to the industry that works with us day in and day out. And thank you to the amazing team at the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment that drives our agenda to increase access and opportunities for New Yorkers every day. Let's get stuff done for the great City of New York. Thank you.
[Applause]
Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer: Thank you. Anne. And now we will hear from Dan Garodnick, our new chair of the City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning, a former member of the City Council. He also served as a CEO of the Riverside Park Conservancy. And in his short time at DCP, he’s already been a transformational leader and I can't wait to see what he will accomplish on behalf of our neighborhoods across the five boroughs. Dan.
Chair of the City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning, Dan Garodnick : Thank you very much, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer. Thank you, Mayor Adams for the opportunity to join this extraordinary team that you have assembled here today. Andrew Kimball, Lindsay Green and Anne Del Castillo, Jose Ortiz, Jr., Kevin Kim, it is a real honor to be here with all of you and of course, my partner, Edith Hsu-Chen at City Planning. Mr. Mayor, as a lifelong New Yorker, I share your concern about the challenging moments that we find ourselves in. In a moment where we face an affordability crisis, housing crisis and a health crisis, all at the same time. There's been nothing quite like it in history. This group together is determined to support you in your efforts to find smart ways to plan for the future, and to spur economic development in the city that we all love. At the Department of City Planning along with Edith Hsu-Chen, who you're going to hear from in a moment, we intend to bring a fresh approach. That means not only taking steps to promote equitable growth, preparing for a changing environment, and respecting the needs of every community in the city, but it also means working to offer a positive user experience for everyone from elected officials to community board members and all applicants in New York's public decision-making process. For those projects that align with our city priorities, we will not only approve them, but we will be their champions. We know how important this is to getting the city back on its feet and to getting stuff done. Mr. Mayor, together, we will rise to meet this moment. Thank you very much for the opportunity to serve.
[Applause]
Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer: Thank you, Dan. Now I'd like to introduce Edith Hsu-Chen, the new Executive Director of the Department of City Planning. Edith has served as the Department's Manhattan Director since 2008 after first joining DCP in ‘97. She is a real force of nature whose energy expertise and lived experience will ensure that all voices are heard as we plan and build for the future. Edith.
[Applause]
Executive Director Edith Hsu-Chen, Department of City Planning : Good morning, everyone. First, I like to thank the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the City Planning Commissioner Dan, for this incredible honor to serve as the Executive Director at City Planning. Like many of my fellow New Yorkers, I'm an immigrant who made the most of some lucky breaks, including getting my foot in the door at City Planning more than 20 years ago as a paid intern. It's all about opportunities. And I am thrilled to be part of this team that is committed to create opportunities in jobs, and housing and commuting, and having fun. That's for the Mayor. And as we work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable city, we're working hard to make sure that New Yorkers have more than a lucky break. Our ambition is to create a bounty of options. So, Dan and I and an incredible team at City Planning are hard at work already. Working hard to build the brightest future for New York. I thank my family, including my sister, who's here today. True immigrants, bring my family everywhere. And I thank you. Thank you all, thank you.
[Applause]
Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer: What did I tell you about that energy level? Thank you, Edith. Now, we will hear from Kevin Kim, our new Small Business Services Commissioner. Kevin is the first Korean American to hold the post. He previously served as a State Liquor Authority Commissioner and was himself a business owner. So, he is wholeheartedly committed to making sure that we not only lift up small businesses, but we really ensure that they propel our economic recovery. Kevin.
[Applause]
Commissioner Kevin Kim, Department of Small Business Services : Thank you, Deputy Mayor. As Mayor Adams often says, there is no such thing as a French dream or the German dream, but there is certainly the American dream and you're looking at someone who's living that dream right now. As a proud son of immigrant parents from South Korea, who built up a small business in the Garment District from scratch, I know firsthand the transformational impact to a family, to a community when a small business actually succeeds. So, I'm here just to thank the Deputy Mayor and the Mayor for their trust in me and I'm really looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with this talented and diverse group to make this city come back stronger and more equitable than ever before. Thank you very much.
[Applause]
Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer: Thank you, Kevin. And last but not least, we will hear from Jose Ortiz, Jr, our incoming Senior Advisor for Workforce Development. He comes to us from the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, where he has been CEO since 2018. Jose is a real master of forging public and private partnerships, which will be so critical as we reimagine our public workforce system. So, it works better and harder for all New Yorkers. Jose.
[Applause]
Senior Advisor Jose Ortiz, Jr., Workforce Development : Thank you, Deputy Mayor. And thank you, Mayor Adams for your support and allowing me to be here today, I'm going to keep it short. I just every one of my colleagues has said pretty much everything I'd like to say. But I want to just thank everyone for the incredible support that they provided in terms of this moment that we're having here to make a real transition and take advantage of a real important opportunity to grow the city equitably. I want to thank my family, my wife and my two lovely children for their incredible support. And I'm just excited to get stuff done and make sure that we can grow the city in a more equitable fashion, getting people back to work. So, thank you.
[Applause]
Mayor : If you haven't noticed, the team often have these little Eric sayings that they say all the time. I want to also say it’s crucial for us in the district of my good friend, Councilman Lincoln Restler, who's here as well.
[Applause]
But also, we can't get this done without the partnership in the City Council. And so, we're really pleased to be joined by Councilwoman Amanda Farías, Chair of the Economic Development Committee. And I would just love for Amanda to say a few rows before we open for on topic questions.
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